Waiting on Wednesday (#13)

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

Title: Music of the Heart
Author: Katie Ashley
Expected Publication: March 15, 2013
Synopsis:

For Abby Renard, the plan was supposed to be simple—join her brothers’ band on the last leg of their summer tour and decide if she’s finally ready for the limelight by becoming its fourth member. Of course, she never imagined stumbling onto the wrong tour bus at Rock Nation would accidentally land her in the bed of Jake Slater, the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train. When he mistakes her for one of his groupie’s, Abby quickly lets him know she sure as hell isn't in his bed on purpose.

Jake Slater never imagined the angel who fell into his bed would resist his charms by promptly kneeing him in the balls. Of course, the fact she seems like a prissy choir girl makes her anything but his type. So he is more than surprised when after betting Abby she wouldn't last a week on their tour bus, she is more than willing to prove him wrong. But as Jake’s personal life begins to implode around him, he finds an unlikely ally in Abby. He’s never met a woman he can talk to, joke with, or most importantly make music with.

As the week starts comes to a close, neither Abby nor Jake is ready to let go. Can a sweetheart Country songstress and a bad boy of Rock N Roll actually have a future together?

Thoughts:

I'm a fan of books involving music so when I saw this, I didn't hesitate in adding it in my TBR list. Then I read some teaser and it made me want it more! Teaser? Here's the LINK.

How about you? What's your Waiting on Wednesday? Link me.

Calling All Bloggers!! ENTANGLED WANTS YOU!

Taken from this WEBSITE.

Calling all bloggers!

Calling all bloggers!

Entangled needs you! *points at you*

Be part of The List.

Here's what you need to know:

One of my awesome publicists at Entangled is compiling a list of bloggers.

Here are the requirements:

Do you have a blog?
(YES!)

Do you love to review books?
(YES!)

Do you want access to books before they release?
(ohhhh..YES!)

If your answers to these questions is a resounding "YES" then you're the right blogger for the job.

We want you! Now's a great time to join The List.

If you want to be a part of The List, here's what you have to do:
Go to this WEBSITE for the instructions.

BLOG TOUR: Evie's Knight by Kimberly Krey (Review and Giveaway)

On tour with Prism Book Tours

Up For Grabs? $50 Amazon Gift card, book swag, and much more!

About Evie’s Knight:

When Evie falls in love with Calvin Knight, their young, virtuous romance conjures a truly wicked spell.

Evie always thought her eighteenth year would be magical, but so far it's not what she hoped for. Her best friend has gone wild, her love life is void, and she misses her mom more than ever. But life for Evie is about to change. Calvin Knight, the object of her fascination, is about to fall madly in love with her. Just one problem: Their love conjures a murderous woman from beyond the grave who wants Evie dead. The same demon who has haunted the Knight men for over four generations. Soon Calvin is forced to make a choice: Set Evie free and hope to evade the wrath of The Raven- haired Ghost, or use his newly gifted strengths to fight against her. If he chooses to fight and wins, Calvin will free the Knight men of this demonic witch. If he loses, Evie will become her next victim.

Review:

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the cover is Sleeping Beauty. Do I need to explain why? Because of that, I became interested with the book. When I read the blurb, I thought it's a bit similar with fairytales because of the "curse" thing.  So I decided to read this and participate in the blog tour. I want to know what it's all about and how they'll be able to break the curse. 

Evie is just a normal teenager who falls in love with Calvin Knight. Their relationship should be fun, not until a curse comes into picture.

I liked how the book started strong. It instantly caught my attention by giving me a preview of how the curse was made. Basically, the story revolves around the curse and the course of Evie and Calvin's romance. 

Evie has a very likable personality. She just has some abandonment issues because of her mom and past relationship. It's understandable how she reacts and having some insecurities. On the other hand, Calvin is your typical good guy. He's beautiful, a responsible brother and genuinely kind and loving. I can't help but love him too. There's just some parts where he made bad decisions which made me hate him a bit. 

For the story, the falling in love part was fast, which is expected. But I would've liked it more if there's more to it than the two instantly having some attraction to each other. How the book progresses was a bit slow. I'm a fast-paced reader so I was bored at some parts that I almost skipped it. The good thing is that little by little, the author gives you a picture of how the evil witch will be defeated, but as it goes on, you still don't know what will happen. 

Overall it was a good romance fantasy. It was fun, sweet and something new I've read. For those who likes such genre, you may give this a chance. 

Rating:

Memorable Quotes:

"No one is so important that your life depends on them,Evie. No one." 

"People come and go Eve. It's a part of life. You have to live yours so it doesn't revolve around someone else. So that your happiness isn't dependent upon them, their actions, or even their love."

"I also remember not knowing what to do with the hurt once I was done. I had opened up all these wounds, and suddenly they were almost impossible to ignore. "

______________________________

Launching the Tour with Kimberly Krey - 

So I have to say that I absolutely love my original cover. I do. It’s my dream cover for Evie’s Knight. But there came a time when I had to take a second look at it and make a few changes.

Why?

The colorless, thumbnail-sized image didn’t stand out as much as I’d hoped when compared to the others on Amazon. And there’s another reason too. We were missing something. Someone, actually.

We were missing... *drum roll, please* … OUR MAN!!!

I really felt like Calvin needed to be on the front of the novel, more than our Raven-haired Ghost. Calvin Knight, our strong, masculine, and ever so hunky hero deserves to be front and center. And personally, I’m thrilled with the change.

So there we have it kids – a splash of color, our handsome Knight, and a new cover I think represents Evie’s Knight beautifully!

Original Cover      Our Shiny New Cover

(Also new in this edition, is an epilogue which wasn’t included in the original.)

Get Your Copy:

Amazon: ebook just $2.99 for a limited time.

Author, Kimberly Krey:

Writing Romance That’s Clean Without Losing the Steam!

I’m a reader of good, clean romance, a lover of family time and Diet Coke, and the ultimate hater of laundry.

I’m not patient enough to enjoy a yoga class, or tall enough to be great at basketball, but I do love to run – anywhere but on a treadmill. I love the sound of a rainstorm when I have no place to go, the feel of Soft Lips chap Stick on my lips, and the first peek of blue water as we round the mountains toward our favorite getaway in Bear Lake.

Find & Follow Kimberly Krey:

Twitter

https://twitter.com/KimberlyKrey

Website

http://kimberlykrey.wix.com/kimberlykrey

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527799.Kimberly_Krey

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Krey/e/B009A0350I/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberly-Krey-Author-Page/106826456029568?ref=hl

Super Swag-a-licious Giveaway.

Grand Prize: $50 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback of Evie's Knight, SoftLips chapstick, recipe cards, E.K. calendar card, postcard of The Storm, and bookmark.

2^nd Prize: $25 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback of Evie's Knight, SoftLips chapstick, recipe cards, E.K. calendar card, postcard of The Storm, and bookmark.

3^rd Prize: $10 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback of Evie's Knight, SoftLips chapstick, recipe cards, E.K. calendar card, postcard of The Storm, and bookmark.

Five more winners will receive an ebook version of Evie’s Knight!

Paperback winners may choose between old cover (shown below) or the new cover, featuring Calvin Knight (shown above).

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Colorimetry & Rafflecopter as well as emailed to winners who will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Laura, Burgandy Ice, @ www.burgandyice.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Catch the Tour:

1 - Min Reads and Reviews – Blast!

1 - Passion and Life – Blast!! – English/Spanish

1 – Kelly Fox – Goodreads Review

1 – I Am A Reader, Not A Writer – Clean Romance I

2 – Monique Morgan – All You Need is Love I

2 - Letters to the Cosmos – Review

3 – Getting Your Read On – Review - Clean Romance II

3 – Reading with Anacrasia - Interview

4 - Christy’s Cozy Corners – Review

6 – Passion and Life – Peaches Recipe & Excerpt – English/Spanish

6 - Paulette’s Papers – All You Need is Love II

7 - Bookworm Lisa – Review - Clean Romance III

7 – Pages of Forbidden Love – Review

8 - Proud Book Nerd – Review

8 - Vanessa Morgan – All You Need is Love III

9 - Kari’s Crowded Bookshelf – Review - 

10 - Geo Librarian – Review
10 - The Literary Forest - Review, Exerpt

11 - InfectedLoser – Review

13 - Welcome to Couch Potato Reader – Review

14 – One A Day YA – Drafts Guest Post

14 - Little Miss Bookworm – Review

15 – Musings of a Reader Happy – ART excerpt Raven-haired Ghost

15 -  Magical Manuscripts – Review 

16 – Proud Book Nerd – Ultimate Grilled Cheese

17 - Books, Books, the Magical Fruit – Interview

17 - Book Sake – Review

18 - Kari’s Crowded Bookshelf – Aromatic Noodles Recipe

20 - A Life Bound by Books – Excerpt I

21 - Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Reviews – Excerpt II

21 - Oh, The Books You’ll Read – Review

22 - A Backwards Story – Review, Excerpt III

22 - Passion and Life – Review – English/Spanish

23 - Framed In Words – ART Guest Post

23 - Colorimetry – ART Guest Post

24 – Unputdownable Books – ART Guest Post

24 - Living a Goddess Life – Crepe Cake

25 – icultgen – Review, ART Guest Post

25 – Pieces of Whimsy - Review

27 – The Reading Diaries – Review

27 - Icefairy’s Treasure Chest – Excerpt

28 – Stressed Rach – Review

28 - Literally Jen – Review

29 – Min Reads and Reviews – Review

29 – Colorimetry – Grand Finale, WINNERS drawn

Waiting on Wednesday (#12)

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

Title: Let The Sky Fall
Author: Shannon Messenger
Expected Publication: March 5, 2013
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Thoughts:

I've seen the cover everywhere and I think it's gorgeous. I haven't heard of the author but from what I heard, it's good. So I can't wait to get my hands on this book! 

How about you? What's your Waiting on Wednesday? Link me.

Guest Post by Jackson Keene and eARC Review of Sarah Quanli

Guest Post by Jackson Keene, author of Sara Quanli

Having earned undergrad and grad degrees in history, plus having spent a year toward a doctorate in same, I’ve always had a healthy fascination with long ago events and individuals (whether common folk or famous personages), with major trends and traditions, and how such evolved through time.  It’s interesting to dig deep into how people carried on – how they managed – during the great epochs of past; how they lived, loved, survived, overcome, left legacies and lineages to carry on their name and bloodline.  How each generation is beholden to the last, but still tasked with creating its personal stamp for the next generation to come.

I’ve loved the sport of basketball since childhood.  I greatly like Chinese people and China as a country.  In fact, I have several Chinese friends with whom I play pick-up basketball games most every week.  In addition, I’m an evangelical Christian.  I love action and adventure, both in movies and in reading.  I’m a very passionate (romantic) person.  So it almost seems natural I would write an historical novel with romance and danger that combines all these things into a unified story.

In some ways, the saga of SARAH QUANLI has elements of both The Good Earth and East of Eden.  It’s all about the lives and loves of several generations of a Chinese family, begun when a handsome Scottish missionary marries a beautiful Chinese girl.  The newly published Book One covers the time period from the birth of David Adam MacDougall in 1882 to the birth of his first child, a daughter, named Sarah Quanli MacDougall in 1916.  Books Two, Three, and Four – still to come – will take the reader through the brutality and turmoil of strife-torn twentieth century China, and later, concurrently, through the social upheaval of the 1960s and beyond in golden California.      _____________________________

Publication Date: October 26, 2012

Synopsis: The beautiful yet deceitful Rossalyn McDonald had twisted the knife deep in David Adam MacDougall’s big heart. He was extraordinarily handsome: chiseled muscles, kindly soul, thoughtful personality, and totally faithful. Any other lass in his Scottish Highlands village would have cheated her own sister to become his bride.

Now David’s entire being felt broken into a thousand pieces. Now he only wanted to reach the faraway city of Beiping China where he was called to be a missionary. But before arriving in that mysterious mistress of the orient, he would face uncertain dangers.

The year is 1904. The bloody Boxer Rebellion is only four years past. Much of northern China still seethes with undercurrents of resentment and hatred of all things Western. If David can just make it to the ancient city with body and soul intact, if he can just survive, there he’ll find his new purpose, his new home, and his new people.

There, he’ll meet the woman he comes to believe is the love of his life. The lithe, athletic, saucy, highly intelligent and equally independent Xiu Li!

Review:

It's my first time to read a Historical Romance book so it took time for me to adjust to the writing style of the author.

Basically, the book is about David McDougall's journey from childhood to a grown up man. The book thoroughly narrated his experiences as a child and that explained who how he became to be a wonderful, kind and gorgeous man. Someone who seems to have it all- a great family, friends and love of his life; didn't guarantee a problem-free life. He was betrayed by his fiance and he was badly hurt. So he decided to take a journey to fulfill his calling in Beiping, China. 

Let's start with the positive side of the book. I started to like the book when David made his journey to Beiping. It was definitely a long one but still there were entertaining and full of action scenes. The main character is totally likable. I can't see any flaws about him, which can be a positive or a negative trait but I'll consider it a positive one. I also liked how the title came from. I was having doubts as to who Sarah Quanli was, and then boom!NO SPOILERS! 

Then let's go to the "not so" positive sides. First, there are a lot of supporting characters that made me confused at times. I don't know if that's a part of it because it's a historical book. Anyway,there were also a lot of side stories that I think are mostly unnecessary. I would have liked it better if the flow is organized. 

The book talks more about David's life and his religious journey, which made the romance part cut short. Since this is a Historical Romance, I would really liked it if the romance part is the focus of the book.

Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book! I had fun with it, for the most parts. So if you're a fan of Historical genre, you may give this a chance.

*Disclaimer: The book has been provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. My views and opinions on the book are all my own.*

Rating:

Memorable Quote:

"God is so real. His words are so real. His plan and Purpose for your life is so real. Reach out to him. Reach out, and he will meet you more than halfway, I assure you."

BOOK REVIEW: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Rachel Mead

Publication Date: August 16, 2007
Synopsis (Goodreads):

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school-it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's-the very place where they're most in danger. . . . Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi-the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires-make Lissa one of them forever.

______________________________

Review:

Before I go to the review proper, I just want to say, now I know why they compared Pure by Jennifer Armentrout to Vampire Academy. If you haven't read Pure yet, I must warn you. This part may contain some spoilers. 

Basically, Pure is not about Vampires but the construction of characters and storyline are similar. Both main characters have gone away from the academy and when they got back, they were given punishment and had to train with someone. That someone, as the story went on, is their love interest. Also, both characters have the same personality- stubborn,strong-willed and protective of those important to them. One thing that sets them apart is the reason of the main character's existence. Both books are good but I liked Pure better. I don't know if it's because I read it first or maybe just because the flow of the story for Pure was better. 

Anyway,let's go back to the REVIEW part.

______________________________

Rose, the main character is most of the time annoying but there are times when I start to like her then she goes back to being annoyingly stubborn again. She's overprotective of Lissa so she had the tendency to be bad and push people away. What I like about her over protectiveness is that she's being selfless and thinks about Lissa more than herself. I like her strong-willed and outgoing character.

Lissa,a Moroi Vampire Princess and Rose's bestfriend, is kind, beautiful and fragile. It seems she's always the one needs saving but in the latter part of the story, she realizes she also has the power to protect the ones she loves. 

The characters are good but I had the hard time connecting with them. I may have liked them at some parts but I wasn't really into them.

I was a bit confused on the first parts of the book because some terms,like Strigoi or Moroi were not defined as it was first mentioned. I just realized who they are as the story went on. I haven't read the blurb, I just went straight to reading the book so I had no idea. Again, my mistake. 

It has a slow start but as the story went on it caught up with the pace I liked. The story itself is very intriguing and there are tidbits of unpredictability which is good. It wasn't entirely focused on romance so I'm glad. The romance parts are cute and lovely. They made me smile.

Overall, I liked and enjoyed the book despite some issues. I'll definitely read the next book. If you want to read a vampire book which isn't just about the good looks, read this one!

Rating:

Memorable Quotes:

“If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you.” 

“Taking a deep breathe, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life.
I walked away.” 

Waiting on Wednesday (#11)

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

Title: Antigoddess
Author: Kendare Blake
Expected Publication: September 10, 2013
Synopsis:
Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

Thoughts:

I'm currently reading Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake and so far,so good. Her new book is getting a lot of buzz since it was first reveled. I must say, I love the cover! It's simple compared to her earlier series, but it shows a representation and has an important meaning. The blurb is too long but very interesting. I can't wait to read this too!

How about you? What's your Waiting on Wednesday? Link me.